Archives for May 2011

‘The free-agent pool potentially includes James Wisniewski, Tomas Kaberle, Kevin Bieksa and Christian Ehrhoff. Bieksa and Ehrhoff play for the Canucks, who won’t likely be able to offer contracts to two defensemen looking for big bucks. Bieksa, 29, was plus-32 this season, tied for second (with Lydman) in the NHL. He’s an alternate captain and workhorse averaging 26 minutes of ice time in the playoffs. His cap hit is $3.75 million.’

‘Foligno’s status with the Sabres is foremost in his mind right now. The Sabres selected Foligno in the fourth round, 104th overall, in 2009 and must have him signed before June 2 or lose his rights. Had he signed already, he would surely be in Portland playing in the American Hockey League playoffs with the Pirates, the Sabres’ minor league affiliate. "My first choice is to sign with Buffalo, but if things are not agreed upon there’s not much I can do," he said. "I really want to play with Buffalo, but there’s a chance I could go back into the draft if I don’t sign by June 2."’

‘"As time goes on, I’d like to take a leadership role," Myers said last week after cleaning out his locker. "As a young guy, you want to let the more experienced guys and the guys who have been here longer take control if they want to. But, definitely, if I can give myself more of a leadership role coming into next year, I want to do that."’

‘That’s what Sabres management needs to remember under owner Terry Pegula. GM Darcy Regier last week acknowledged all players are available for the taking, which gives him more options with his own roster. He needs to reevaluate his personnel and take an aggressive approach without sweating about the future. The Sabres have never won it all. That’s their reality.’

‘“My thought here is that I’m a Sabre,” Montador said last week inside HSBC Arena as the Sabres cleaned out their lockers. “I’d love to be able to get something done and stick around for a long time and finish my career here. There’s lots of changes we all know about that are going on. At the same time,” he said, “the core group of people that have put so much time in here to build things to get to this point, I feel like I’ve become part of that and I want to be part of that.”’

‘“I’ve had a pretty good career,” Grier said inside HSBC Arena. “I played longer than I wanted to. Some of that (Tuesday) is you’re not sure what the future holds. You don’t want to take off that jersey. It means a lot to be able to put it on and have a lot of pride to be able to play in the NHL and represent the Sabres."”